Considering the youth of the team, the Guildford Park Sabres figure they got the most from their male wrestlers at last weekend’s Fraser Valley championships in Abbotsford.

Paced by a pair of gold medalists, the Sabres placed fourth in the team standings with 50 points, 14 back of third place Maple Ridge and 16 behind runner-up W.J. Mouat. Abbotsford’s Rick Hansen won the team title with 99 points.

“We only had one Grade 12, and two Grade 11s,” said Guildford Park coach McRae. “The rest are in Grade 8 and 9, so it looks pretty promising for the future.”

Isaac Bernard, the lone Grade 12 on the Guildford Park roster, continued on his path toward a fifth straight B.C. championship by winning in the 63 kg. category.

“There was no competition for him,” said McRae. “He knows he’s going to dominate whoever he steps onto a wrestling mat with. He weighed in at 59 kg., but wrestled in the 63 kg. class. He was the strength to compete in the 70 kg. class.”

Diego Esparza, a second-year wrestler and a Grade 9 student, was the only other Guildford Park wrestler to place first, doing so in the 48 kg. class.

“He has an outside shot at a top six finish at the B.C.’s, which would be very good for him,” said McRae. “He won the Fraser Valleys handily, it wasn’t close. He hasn’t had a great year, but this weekend he was a different wrestler. I hope he can carry it through to provincials.”

“He was close in each match, but you could tell he wasn’t as experienced as the other wrestlers,” said McRae. “His body position and skill-set is good. He’s a long shot for a top six at provincials, but he could surprise.”

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